Oil & Fuel Fuel Treatments Year 'Round?

[WH401]

I don't know if it's Stabil or not.

I used to have frequent carb problems with my chainsaw. Seemed it ended up at the Stihl dealer once or twice a year Since I started using Stabil, I haven't had any more problems. I don't know if the dealer was using poor quality parts, or if Stabil has made the difference.

I put it in the 5 gal cans when I refill them. It gets used for everything: chainsaws, weedeater, generators, 4wheelers, etc.

I probably ought to start using something in the diesel fuel, however.

Definitely the Sta-bil, it makes the difference, or any fuel treatment for that matter.

 

[franklinute]

I have been using SeaFoam in marine and small engines for over 10 years. I trully don't know if it really makes a big difference but it is part of my routine and I have been satisfied so far.
I try to buy non ethanol gas for small engines and marine and from the same location if possible. For storage I fill all metal tanks on small engines to keep moisture and corrosion out. I do turn off the fuel to the carb and run the engine until it quits. Then pull the fuel bowl and clean out any residue. I do put fogging oil in the cylinders of seasonal equipment like boat engines. I do unhook all battery cables some batteries get taken out and stored inside.
I have done this routine for many years and haven't pulled a carb off to clean in a long time.

 

[FrogLick]

I use Sta-bil year round in all my gasoline engines. I also use Power Service in my diesel year round. I know Power Service has been discussed to death in various threads but I'm still not sure what the real difference is between the white and grey bottle types.

 

[LBrown59]

can you digress a little on your reasons?...I am totally ignorant on the subject and only have internet resources for information...

I did find this: Diesel Engines - What will Sea Foam do for my diesel engine? - Sea Foam

Adding Sea Foam to your diesel fuel tank provides the following benefits:

Adds lubricity to the fuel, protecting moving parts from excessive friction damage
Controls moisture in diesel fuel
De-gels frozen diesel fuel
Cleans fuel residues from your fuel system components
Sea Foam cleans the fuel pump and lubricates the O-rings
Sea Foam cleans the pintle valve in your injectors and restores the injector痴 spray pattern (this is where all the power and smoothness comes from in a diesel.)
Cleans carbon deposits from the combustion chamber
Stabilizes diesel fuel up to 2 years (at average 1 ounce Sea Foam /gallon diesel)
All fuels leave a residue in the system that collect contaminants and hinder proper operation of that system. Sea Foam helps keep the system operating properly by making those residues dissolve gently back into a liquid state, allowing those contaminants to be filtered out of the fuel system.

I just think Power Service which is specially formulated for Diesel Fuel is a better choice.

 

[Mike058]

I'll add a vote for Seafoam. I heard about it from a motorcycle forum and used in the Vulcan 750. (the carbs are a total bear to remove if they need to be cleaned) It's been starting great for 5 years now. I added it to gas for the weed eater, chain saw, lawn mower and generator too. They all start on first or second pull even after sitting for months at a time. Seafoam is really just a solvent that keeps varnish from forming without hurting any seals or filters in the fuel system. So it works a lot better if added a little at a time on a regular basis. It will dissolve already formed gunk (for lack of a better term) but takes time, the more gunk, the more time.

 

[/pine]

I just think Power Service which is specially formulated for Diesel Fuel is a better choice.

thanks for the follow up...is 'Power Service' available at TSC? I don't remember seeing it at Wal-mart?

 

[yomax4]

Yep, Easy to just splash a little Stabil ( marine formula ) in all gas cans prior to filling them. Seafoam is just a buch of assorted solvents like toulene and a couple others but it works. If you forget to stabilize your fuel and your carb gets gunked up, Add Seafoam let sit a couple days and start the engine. It may run bad for an hour but the Seafoam will clean it out. I just did it on a Lawn mower and a tiller. The tiller sat for 2 years with crappy gas and would not start. I dumped out the old, Put in New and Seafoam. Next day it started and ran terrible. I had to have the choke on to keep it going. Soon I had to move the choke to 1/2, Then off. She runs good now.

 

[LBrown59]

thanks for the follow up...is 'Power Service' available at TSC? I don't remember seeing it at Wal-mart?

I get it at.
Wall Mart
TCS
Go Mart Truck stops.

 

[Doug in NNY]

I have a BX2350. I didn't treat the fuel all last winter but (miracle of miracles) there wasn't gel when I fired it up in March. (Does gel sort of "un-gel" when cold weather turns to warm?)

I wandered around Tractor Supply late last winter and I chanced on an older couple. He was an OTR trucker and she went along for the ride. Nice people. I said, What would you recommend for diesel? He said, Howes Diesel Treatment. This is Watertown NY (northern NY State) and he said that he drives sometimes into the Maritime Provinces it the dead of winter. Howes.

I use StaBil in all stored gasoline, no matter if I use the gas in a month or have it around for emergency use in our 4500W Porter Cable generator. Tetra-ethyl lead was the "store it forever" factor in gasoline way back in the day. If something worked better than StaBil, I would use that. I don't want surprises when the power is out and it is zero Fahrenheit.

I've cleaned gum out of too many fuel systems in my life. Now I treat everything.

Doug

 

[Ken45101]

AFAIK, the issue for gas is not as much the absence of lead, but rather the presence of ethanol that causes much of the problems.

As for diesel "gelling", the problem (as I understand it) is that #2 diesel has wax precipitate out at low temperatures and it clogs filters and injectors. Once the fuel warms up, the wax goes back into solution. So if you are not using the tractor during winter, and wait for spring, all will be okay. I've never put anything in any of my equipment and never had a problem come spring.

During colder weather, fuel suppliers should switch to #1 diesel (lighter) that doesn't have the wax problem. If you go to your local station in January, they will be selling #1, not #2. The problem is when you buy fuel in August and try to use it in January. It will be #2 and could cause problems if you don't treat it.

Or, if you are a long distance trucker and fill up in Alabama enroute to Maine, you may have trouble since Alabama probably never switches to #1.

For equipment I don't use over the winter, I won't do anything. But for equipment I will use in winter, I'll either get winterized fuel (e.g. buy it during the winter) or add a treatment to what I have.

Ken